America's college gatekeeper is changing dramatically. Get ready for advanced algebra, an essay--and, yes, the return of grammar. An exclusive look at the new exam--and how it may hurt some students'

Three hours of misery are apparently not enough. Now the makers of the SAT want to shape what kids learn throughout four years of high school. True, students have always had to brush up on vocabulary and take practice tests before the SAT, but now the College Entrance Examination Board, which owns the test, is developing the "New SAT," an exhaustive revision largely intended to mold the U.S. secondary-school system to its liking.

The College Board wants schools to produce better writers, so the New SAT will require an essay. The board thinks grammar is important, so the new test will...